The Redesigned Subaru WRX and WRX STI Earn IIHS Top Safety Pick

With the addition of the WRX and WRX STI model line, Subaru now has six models that have earned 2014 safety awards from IIHS – three with TOP SAFETY PICK and three with TOP SAFETY PICK+.

MISSISSAUGA, ON, May 5, 2014 /CNW/ - Subaru Canada, Inc. (SCI) now has more TOP SAFETY PICK award ratings than any other brand as its 2015 WRX and WRX STI today earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's (IIHS) TOP SAFETY PICK designation for 2014. This is the first time the Institute has rated the WRX STI line, which has been completely redesigned for the 2015 model year. With the addition of these pure performance sedans, Subaru now has six models that have earned 2014 safety awards from the IIHS. In December, the Subaru Legacy, Outback and Forester with optional EyeSight earned the IIHS' highest possible standard of safety, the TOP SAFETY PICK+ award, while the Impreza and XV Crosstrek earned TOP SAFETY PICK award ratings for 2014.

The 2015 WRX and WRX STI earn the TOP SAFETY PICK award for good performance in each of the Institute's crashworthiness evaluations, including the small overlap front test. The Institute introduced the small overlap evaluation in 2012. In the test, which is more challenging than either the head-on crashes conducted by the government or the IIHS moderate overlap test, 25 percent of a vehicle's front end on the driver's side strikes a rigid barrier at 40 mph. The crash replicates what happens when the front corner of a vehicle collides with another vehicle or an object such as a tree or utility pole.

The WRX also earned good ratings in the moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests. To qualify for TOP SAFETY PICK, a vehicle must earn a good or acceptable rating for small overlap protection and a good rating in the other four tests. The "plus" is awarded to vehicles that meet those criteria and also earn a rating of basic or higher for front crash prevention.

"Subaru has forged a reputation for developing some of the most technologically sound safety systems in the world," said Shiro Ohta, president and CEO of Subaru Canada, Inc. "As the highest performing cars in our fleet, our completely redesigned 2015 Subaru WRX and WRX STI offer an ideal balance between sheer excitement and absolute security."

About Subaru Canada, Inc. Subaru Canada, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. of Japan. Headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of over 85 authorized dealers across Canada. For more information, please visit www.subaru.ca or www.pr.subaru.ca or follow @Subaru_Canada on Twitter.